by Jim Hylton

Jim Hylton has been in church leadership for more than fifty years. He had pastored and led conferences worldwide and brings a broad and deep perspective to the reader. The crux of the book is that in times past the church has sought revival when it should have pursued the kingdom of God. Revivals come and go, but the kingdom continues to unfold without end.

I have come to the conclusion that receiving a Kingdom is far better than praying down revival. (p.213)

This is a simple idea, but don’t let that deter you from reading it. It is packed with insight that inspires. Hylton writes that the supernatural skyline is where heaven meets earth. Where heaven meets earth is where the church connects with the community on mission for Christ.

We have done a far better job telling people how to let Jesus in than we have in telling them how to let Jesus out. Letting Jesus out is letting the life and love He shares with us be shared again with others. The Kingdom coming creates a love-based behavior for all we do. This love-based motivation becomes the order for church life born out of the Kingdom overlay of purpose. Reaching out to people is based on what God can do for them, not what they can do for us. (p.204)

Recovering the Blueprints of the Kingdom

Nowhere does Jesus suggest that we should be praying, “Your church be built;” but, instead, “Your kingdom come.” In fact when Jesus introduced the Church later on, He indicated that He would build it (see Matt. 16:18). Our focus is always to be on the Kingdom. Seeking first the Kingdom carries the serendipity of everything else being added that is needed. We seek the Kingdom. He builds the church. (p.52)

Citing Bob Roberts, the pastor of Northwood Church in North Fort Worth, Texas, Hylton writes:

It is his love for Christ that gives him a love for missions, but missions is not about building the Church, but building the Kingdom. He teaches the family of God at Northwood that “they do not do missions; they are the mission.” Wherever they are, they are on mission, starting at home with good family relationships, at work with good work ethics, in their neighborhoods, in their cities, and on to the nations of the world…The original plan was allowing Christ’s life to create an order of authority and life that is the reenactment of Himself. His presence brings His Kingdom. His power brings His benefits to all who will receive them. (pp.53-55)

Addressing the propensity of God’s people to seek out superstar preachers rather than experience Kingdom life, he writes:

Preaching can easily become a verbal art form. People attend church like people who walk through art galleries, admiring the skills of the artist. Verbal artistry can leave people with the enjoyment of the art of communication and void of the experience of hearing God’s voice. Richard F. Lovelace, professor of Church history at Gordon Conwell Seminary, says of another generation needing a fresh encounter with God: “Many American congregations were in effect paying their ministers to protect them from the real God.” (p.62)

The author’s roots are in evangelical Christianity, and part of his journey has been coming to terms with the reality of God’s power and gifts being for today. He insightfully states:

When the church is not really concerned about hurting people, it has no sense for the need of the supernatural. The institutional church is more concerned in maintaining credibility and fostering success and image. When we “let this mind be in us that was in Christ” (Phil. 2:5) and start ministering as He did, we will gladly welcome all the supernatural power available. (p.83)

Losing the War in the Wrong Battle

Hylton addresses the hideous monster of church tradition which often rears its head to oppose the work of God’s Spirit, as it has always done through the ages. He writes:

The god of Christian religion is tradition. Though the tradition may be rich and heart-warming, if it is an outward form without a personal relationship to the living Lord, it is just a religion under a new name… Every awakening precipitates a “wineskin war” because old wineskins begin to crack and tear from the energy of fermenting new wine. Threatened wineskins must be defended by those whose commitment is to the “cause” rather than to the Kingdom…behind the protest, there is usually a threatened existence of a wineskin that no longer flexes under Christ’s rule. (pp.116-117)

Who’s Who in the Kingdom

In this chapter, Hylton addresses our identity in Christ.

Christ in us is the eternal purpose of God being fulfilled by his incarnation being extended beyond one life to every life willing to receive this gift of God. Mary had to decide if she would open her life to receive His life in her. So do we. This treasure of Heaven in us makes our lives clay pots housing His infinite worth. (p.136)

Everything he [Jesus] did was done because he knew who he was. His father told him, “You are my beloved son” and he believed him. Our problem in answering the question, “Who are you?” is usually the issue that most needs to be settled. Either we have never heard the Father tell us who we are, or we have heard and thought it was too good to be true, or we have heard and then forgotten what we heard. (p.141)

It was in this awakened state of mind that I realized that not only was I not a “saved sinner,” I was actually an new creation in Christ and appeared to God always in the clothing of Christ’s righteousness…I would not achieve righteousness by my performance. I would receive righteousness by my faith… Understanding our righteous identity with God allows us to know the peace of God. Peace covers our feet and allows us to walk with comfort. No wonder we are often immobile in moving to touch the lives of others. We are foot weary instead of having “happy feet” covered in peace… How we see ourselves always regulates how we treat others. Loving our neighbors comes out of loving ourselves. Jesus made that clear. When we have low self-esteem, we have low value for those for whom Christ gave His life. Our value is seen by Christ’s payment for us in his life and death. (pp.143-147)

The Gospel with an Attitude

Here Hylton addresses the importance of our posture. He writes:

His [Paul’s] gospel was not only the truth about the person and finished work of Christ, but was also the presence of Christ, who was there to speak for himself. He knew that Christ came and spoke for himself to him…We must see that the presence of Christ embodies the Gospel, as well as the true facts about Him. The facts about his perfect life, his death to pay for our sin, and his return to life in the resurrection victory are important. Never can they be discounted. We can declare Him. But we cannot re-present him. Only he can present himself. The content of the Gospel is important. The person of the Gospel is essential… Presence evangelism is the most impacting experience in evangelism. (pp.156-161)

When he [Jesus] declared, “The kingdom is at hand,” he was saying, “This is a mobile business. We will come where you are. House calls are made and deliveries are without charge.” Church as most of us have known it is something you go to. The Kingdom comes to us and to others through us. (p.163)

When the Kingdom Comes – Where Does It Go?

Here Hylton compares and contrasts our past emphasis on revival in churches to the coming of the Kingdom in an area. He writes:

We had grown accustomed to the Lord visiting us, and with his visitation, people came to bask in his presence. Now he didn’t come to us as regularly or as intently. We were going to where he was hanging out. His location surprised us at times… We were pioneering a day when the Body of Christ is more about Kingdom connections than church divisions. Successful Church life was not as high a priority as Kingdom expressions… Jesus is indeed disguised in the needs of others waiting for our helping hand. Kingdom hands are extended to others rather than just gripping what we already have. We need to lose our grip on what we cling to. (pp.177-183)

The final chapters of the book address the need to see and have faith for the Kingdom and the things that try to block that.

That Emmaus road experience is repeated by many who walk with a comparative stranger all day. They talk about Christ. Finally they awaken and discover that they were talking about him when they could have been talking to him (see Luke 24:13-31). He is here with us – even within us. He is our companion in this journey. He is here to be enjoyed, and he wants to share his life with us. (p.225)

Hylton also writes about dysfunctional patterns in the church that try to lock us out of truly experiencing kingdom life. He calls it an “orphan mentality,” which is a lie-based stronghold that obstructs our seeing God as our loving Father with infinite provisions.

The Kingdom message of economic freedom is not the message of a “prosperity gospel.” In fact it is almost the opposite; while giving is part of the kingdom message, the primary reality is about saving and investing. Our investment is more than wise financial investment. It is investment in the greatest agency of the Kingdom, namely people who become disciples. (p.268)

This book is loaded with good material, much of which I have not touched in this summary. I highly recommend that you take the time to read it for yourself.